Harpanahalli Town
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Harpanahalli Town
Head-quarters of the tdlnk of the same name in Bellary District, Madras, situated in. 14° 47' N. and 76° o E., in a hollow surrounded by low hills. Population (1901), 9,320. Between 1868 and 1882 it was the head-quarters of the Deputy-Collector who then held charge of the four western taluks of the District. It was formerly the seat of one of the most powerful of the local chieftains or poligdrs, who kept all authority in their hands throughout the numerous changes of sovereigns which occurred in this part of the country.
The remains of the fort are still standing, and, being surrounded by water on three sides, it must have been a strong place. The poligdrs rose to power after the downfall of the Vijayanagar empire at the battle of Talikota in 1565, and by the end of the seventeenth century their possessions comprised 460 villages, for which they paid a tribute of over 8 lakhs. The chiefs were useful to Haidar All of Mysore, which still further strengthened their position, but his son Tipii treacherously seized the poligdr and imprisoned him and most of his relations. After the death of Tipu at the storm of Seringapatam in 1799, the place was occupied by a former Dlwan of Harpanahalli on behalf of a child of the poligdr family. But he yielded peacefully to (General Harris when the latter marched through the country, and he and i\\<i poligdr were rewarded with considerable estates. Both families are now extinct. The industries of the town include a little weaving of coarse cotton stuffs and woollen blankets, and some unambitious brass-work.
